Wire reel divider



Feb. 21, 1961 E. J. LORD WIRE REEL DIVIDER Filed may 5, 195s IN VENTOR Ulm/1d J lard ATTORNEYS f" 2,972,454`A l ce Patented Feb.. -z1 ,.19s1

WIRE REEL DIV IDER Edward J. Lord, R.F.D. 6, Farmville, Va.

Filed May 5, 1958, Ser. No. 732,955

3 Claims. (Cl. 242-110.Z)

This invention relates to a wire take-up reel divider for use in reclaiming wires or cables on a collapsible type power reel.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a means of dividing the cradle of the collapsible type power reel so that two wires or cables may be simultaneously taken up (instead of the usual one) winding each into separate coils.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which will enable quick and simple removal of the coils from the reel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a convenient means for placing tie wires on each of the two coils of wire or cable before removing them from the reel.

Another object of this invention is to provide complete separation of wires or cables being reeled in by means o-f a guide ring which encircles the mechanism.

Other objects of this invention will become obvious with the following description and accompanying illustration.

In the drawings attached hereto and made a part hereof, Fig. l is a side view of the reel divider. Fig. 2 is a front view of the reel divider shown in operating position mounted on a collapsible type power reel which is shown in broken line. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along lines 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Referring t-o the drawing the unit comprises ay strap steel base 1 which is shaped to iit a collapsible power reel 100, such as the type C-R collapsible power reel, manufactured by Baker Equipment Engineering Co., Richmond, Virginia. Reels of this type are usually but not necessarily hexagonal. The reel 100 comprises a driven shaft 101 on which there is mounted a fixed spider 102 and an axially movable spider 103, each of the spiders 102 and 103 having confronting arms 104 and 105, respectively, usually six on each spider, but only two are shown in the drawing. The arms 104 are radially longer than the arms 105. A wire coil holding yoke 106 is mounted between each set of confronting arms 104 and 105 by means of pivots 107 and segment 108 which is pivotally coupled at one end to the yoke 106 by pivot 109, and to the arm 105 by pivot 110. The movable spider 103 is provided with a screw threaded hub 111, which is engaged by an actuator 112 to move the spider in an axial direction toward and away from the fixed spider 102'to tilt the yokes 106 to release the wire coil, not shown, to be held in the outwardly aring arms 106a of the yokes Reels of this type are well known, and the present invention is directed to providing a separator for the collapsible reel so that two strands of wire may Ibe taken up on the to be.

2l collapsible reel `at one time and the resulting two coils as easily removed from the collapsed reel as'one is known Thepurpose of this strap is to provide a base upon which to attach the other parts of the mechanism. The strap 1 engages the bases 113 of all of the yokes 106 circumferentially of the reel 100, and when the reel is erected the strap 1 is pulled taut. The strap 1 is substantially narrower thanthe base 113. To this base are fastened tie wire guides 2. The purpose of these tie wire guides is to keep the coils of wire or cable separated, to provide a path for placing tie wire on the coils and to act as radial members for holding the guide ring soon to to described in place. Small inclined ribs 3 hold the wire guides 2 in a radial position and give strength to the joint, and prevent the coils of wire from forming on the strap 1 and thereby making the removal of the coils of wire difcult when the reel is collapsed. To this end they provide a decline for the inner portion of the coil so that it readily slides o of the separator when the reel is collapsed. The radial guides 2 are substantially narrower in transverse cross-section than the strap 1. To the tips 2a of the tie wire guides 2 is fastened a guide ring 4 which is spaced outwardly in a circumferential manner from the strap 1 to guide the strands of wire onto the respective sides of the yokes 100 and form separate coils on each side of said yoke, each coil being held between the radial guides 2 and one of the sides of the yokes 100. This ring is to give a good separation of wires or cables as they are being reeled in since it provides a continuous circumferential guide and to give support to the entire separator. In the base strap 1 are small rivets 5 with round heads outstanding from the reel engaging face of the strap 1. The purpose of these is to engage in similarily shaped cavities 6 placed in the reel in order to insure that the reel divider when placed on the power reel will be in the proper place at the center of the base 113 of the yoke 106.

To use the wire reel divider the collapsible power reel must lirst be in a collapsed position. The reel divider is then slipped on and the reel is expanded. It will now tit snugly at the center of the reel and is ready for use. Two wires or cables may then be reeled in simultaneously. The guide ring keeps the two Wires or cables separated as they are being reeled in. When the reel is full, three tie wires may be placed on each roll of wire or cable by slipping tie wires along the tie wire guides. The coils or rolls of wire or cable are ready for removal by causing the reel to collapse. Wire and wire reel divider slip olf together.

What is claimed is:

1. A wire coil separator for mounting on a collapsible power winding reel having at least a pair of wire coil holding yokes with outwardly flaring yoke arms, the yokes being mounted betweena movable spider and a fixed spider to laterally decline the yoke upon movement of the movable spider in an axial direction to release a coil of wire mounted on the yokes, comprising, an endless substantially narrow base strap, an upstanding radially outwardly directed guide substantially narrower in transverse cross-section than said base strap and fxedly mounted medially of said base strap, and inclined surface means secured to either side of said guide and extending between the edge of said base strap and said upstanding guide.v

2. A wire coil separator for installation on the coil yokes of a collapsible power reel for winding wire into coils" comprising, an Vendless base strap having inner and outer faces, a plurality of radially disposed guides outstandinlt,7 from the outer face of said base strap and having one end xedly attached thereto, a plurality of ribs, each rib extending between one lateral edge of said strap and one of said radially disposed guides whereby wire wound on said reel will not lodge on said strap, and a Continuous circumferential guide xedly attached to the other ends of said radially disposed guides.

3. A wire coil separator as claimed in claim 2, means 'for transversely spacing said separator on said yokes, and

base strap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Saar Feb. 19, Barger May 29, Watkins Oct. 3l, Lockwood July 22, Bromm Oct. 24, 

